Should this be allowed for the sake of heritage? Or, does the statue and the Hammer and Sickle borne on it represent an oppressive regime, and therefore should not be given public space?

As a side note, I'm reading a good book right now, Confederates in the Attic. Many people in the book are against the flying of the Confederate (Battle) Flag because of what they believe it represents: slavery, racism, etc. Confederate flag supporters say that it's about HERITAGE and not HATE. Now, I know that the Confederate Flag issue doesn't compare with the Hammer and Sickle, but it still got me wondering: do the people who want to re-erect the Soviet statue have a right to do so, for the sake of recognizing one's history and heritage?

If one wants to display them for culture, history, etc. sake (which I'm not opposed to, since {cliche} we must learn from our history {/cliche}), I think a certain amount of time must pass to allow for healing of old wounds and settling down of culture. For example, I think the problem with the Confederate Flag is that it is still associated with the racism/Jim Crow/etc. that was going on 30+ years ago (and is still going on now in some places). The hammer and sickle/Communist statues/etc. are still too fresh (it hasn't been 25 years yet since the "fall" of Soviet Communism - some may argue it hasn't fallen at all, just stumbled) in the public consciousness to be effective in a historical/cultural acknowledgment role.

If one wants to display them for culture, history, etc. sake (which I'm not opposed to, since {cliche} we must learn from our history {/cliche}), I think a certain amount of time must pass to allow for healing of old wounds and settling down of culture. For example, I think the problem with the Confederate Flag is that it is still associated with the racism/Jim Crow/etc. that was going on 30+ years ago (and is still going on now in some places). The hammer and sickle/Communist statues/etc. are still too fresh (it hasn't been 25 years yet since the "fall" of Soviet Communism - some may argue it hasn't fallen at all, just stumbled) in the public consciousness to be effective in a historical/cultural acknowledgment role.

I agree, the other thing to consider too is that how exactly is the hammer and sickle a part of Russian heritage? I mean Russia was only communist for a relatively short period compared to the rest of Russia's history. Im not sure the hammer and sickle accurately represent the true Russian heritage.

I agree, the other thing to consider too is that how exactly is the hammer and sickle a part of Russian heritage? I mean Russia was only communist for a relatively short period compared to the rest of Russia's history. Im not sure the hammer and sickle accurately represent the true Russian heritage.

On the other hand, the Confederate States of America only lasted four years, yet it actually embodied many of the principles of agrarian America held for centuries, and which are still held today. When choosing a cultural symbol, universality is far more important than the particular time in which it was conceived.

Logged

"It is remarkable that what we call the world...in what professes to be true...will allow in one man no blemishes, and in another no virtue."--Charles Dickens